The Chellgren Fellows Program is for students with exceptional academic potential and aspirations, who are eager to participate in a special learning community designed to cultivate extraordinary achievement. Outstanding faculty members from across campus serve as individual mentors for the Fellows.

Chellgren Endowed Professors maintain an active research program in their discipline; teach courses in one of the university's programs of excellence or within their college or department; and direct a specific project intended to advance progressive reform of undergraduate education. Each endowed professor conducts a specific project designed to improve undergraduate education. They also collaborate with colleagues in the Chellgren Center on other initiatives and activities that are intended to improve the quality of the undergraduate experience and help UK become a beacon of undergraduate excellence.

The Chellgren Endowed Professors and Chellgren Fellows Program were made possible by the Chellgren Center, which was created in 2005 with an initial gift from Paul Chellgren and his family. His total commitment of $2.25 million was matched by the state’s Endowment Match Program, creating a $4.5 million endowment for the Chellgren Center for Undergraduate Excellence.

As a UK undergraduate, Chellgren was an Honors Program student and star intercollegiate debater. After earning his MBA from Harvard and a D.D.E. from Oxford University, he began a successful career that culminated with his retirement as chairman and CEO of Ashland Inc. He was inducted into UK’s Hall of Distinguished Alumni in 2000 and the Gatton College of Business and Economics Hall of Fame in 1995, and served on the UK Board of Trustees for 11 years. His commitment to improving and enriching undergraduate education at UK continues to impact thousands of UK students, faculty and staff.